Parliament Question: Gap Funding for Economic Empowerment of Women

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3458 TO BE ANSWERED ON 13.03.2026 GAP FUNDING FOR ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT OF WOMEN 3458. SHRI G. LAKSHMINARAYANA: Will the Minister of WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT be pleased to state: (a) the year in which the Gap Funding for Economic Empowerment component under the Samarthya sub-scheme of Mission Shakti was operationalised indicating its key objectives; (b) the details of proposals received under this component since its inception. State/UT-wise and year-wise: (c) the current status of said proposals, including the amount approved, allocated, release and utilised; (d) whether the Ministry has issued any guidelines specifying eligibility criteria, permissible activities and monitoring and evaluation mechanisms for Gap Funding, if so, the details thereof; (e) whether the Ministry proposes to place any data on proposal approvals/fund utilisation in the public domain to enhance transparency and inter-State comparison. State/UT-wise, if so, the details thereof; and (f) whether any indicators/assessment framework has been developed to measure the outcomes of Gap Funding on women's economic empowerment, including income enhancement employment generation and enterprise creation, if so, the details thereof? ANSWER MINISTER OF WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT (SHRIMATI ANNPURNA DEVI) (a) to (f) Mission Shakti aims at strengthening interventions for women safety, security and empowerment. Mission Shakti comprises of two verticals ‘Sambal’ for safety and security of women and ‘Samarthya’ for empowerment of women. The ‘Sambal’ has components of One Stop Centre (OSC), Women Helpline (WHL), Beti Bachao Beti Padhao (BBBP) and Nari Adalat (Nari Adalat). The ‘Samarthya’ has components of Shakti Sadan, Sakhi Niwas, Padhan Mantri MatruVandana Yojana (PMMVY), Palna and SANKALP: Hub for Empowerment of Women (SANKALP: HEW). SANKALP: Hub for Empowerment of Women (HEW) is a component of Samarthya Sub-scheme under Umbrella Mission Shakti. It aims to facilitate inter-sectoral convergence of schemes and programs meant for women both at the central (NHEW), State/ UT level (SHEW) and district level (DHEW). It started on 1st April 2022 under the 15th Finance Commission cycle. Hub for Empowerment of Women (HEW) known as SANKALP: HEW (Supportive Action for Nurturing and Knowledge-Based Advancement, Last-Mile Delivery and Potential Realization of Women : Hub for Empowerment of Women), set up at National, State and District levels for empowerment of women with aims to facilitate inter-sectoral convergence of schemes and programs meant for women at Central, State/ UT and district levels with the mandate to create an environment in which women realize their full potential to address gaps in state action for women and for promoting inter-ministerial and inter-sectoral convergence through strengthening the processes that promote holistic empowerment of women by creating an environment conducive to social change by improving access and utilization of government schemes. Under the Scheme, cost sharing between Centre and States is 60:40, except in respect of North Eastern and Special Category States, where the cost sharing ratio is 90:10 and for UTs without Legislature, it is 100% central funding. Further, no proposals have been received for Critical Gap Funding in the Programme Approval Board (PAB) meetings held every year during the 15th Finance Commission period for Mission Shakti. *****